From Cocktails to Jazz

Experience the best that ‘The Big Easy’ has to offer on this super-fun afternoon tour. Enjoy some classy cocktails in the famous French Quarter, including the historic Sazerac and hear all about the origins of jazz before visiting a few of our favorite local jazz clubs, beer in hand. By the end of the day, you’ll be hooked on gin and jazz and a bona fide expert on the nightlife of North America’s Mardi Gras city!

Highlights

Discover the origins of jazz as you take a scenic stroll around beautiful Louis Armstrong park

Go beyond Bourbon Street and visit historic bars once frequented by pirates, military generals and famous writers

Sample the Sazerac cocktail (and many others!), a classic concoction invented in New Orleans almost 200 years ago

Enjoy a beer on us while witnessing the talents of some of the city’s best musicians

Your cocktails and jazz tour begins in Jackson Square where you’ll find many of the best bars of the French Quarter are only a stone’s throw away. Don’t expect to spend much time on Bourbon Street though. While it has its place in New Orleans nightlife, we go beyond the tourist trail to show you what really makes New Orleans’ cocktail culture unique.

For our first cocktail stop we travel back to the 1700s and visit a bar which used to entertain some of the most eccentric characters in New Orleans history. Here, we taste a famous drink of the city and learn how it has influenced New Orleans drinking culture today.

We then visit one of your guide’s favorite bars and taste a drink so good you’ll forget there’s alcohol in it.

Next up, we will sample the ‘official cocktail of New Orleans’: the Sazerac. One of the first cocktails ever invented, it’s definitely tasty enough to stand the test of time.

Our final cocktail stop is at one of the classiest establishments in town to try one of the city’s most esteemed drinks, the Ramos Gin Fizz. After your first sip, you’ll truly understand why New Orleans has been called, “the cradle of civilized drinking.”

There is an opportunity to rest your feet or grab a bite to eat before the jazz portion of the tour begins. Your guide can recommend some good eats, depending on your preferences. Then we’ll head over to the historic and beautiful Louis Armstrong Park in the Tremé neighborhood.

Within the park, we talk about the historical origins of jazz and discuss one of the jazz greats, Armstrong himself.

From here, we make our way to the popular Marigny neighborhood, a hip nightlife area that’s home to the famous Frenchmen Street, where you’ll find the largest concentration of live music venues in the city. Being with a local, you’ll have access to the best options, depending on the day of the week, time and band schedules. And to top it off, you receive a beer on us at one of the stops. You’re very welcome to purchase additional beverages as and when you want them.

We’ll also be on the lookout for impromptu street performances, which always make the night special. And if the timing and mood is right, we’ll get behind the scenes with one of the bands in between sets.

Your cocktails and jazz tour ends at the nightly art market, another lively spot where the city’s artists show off their best work, from handmade sculptures to local photography.

If (well, let’s be honest, when!), at the end of the tour you’re still craving more, your guide can point out other great locations in the area for dinner, drinks and of course, more great music!

Additional information

Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, five cocktail samples, small snack, one beer, and one street car ticket (if applicable).

Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you are placed in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.

Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We’ll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.

Child Policy: Travellers under 21 years of age are not permitted to join this tour.

Dietary Notes

This tour features a couple of cocktails that include dairy ingredients such as eggs and/or milk. Discounts are available for vegans or people with a lactose-intolerance. Your guide can also assist you with alternative drink recommendations to purchase separately during the tour.